Taylor Swift and Hayden Panettiere’s surprising connection left the singer “deeply saddened” by the actress’ sudden death at 36.
“Taylor and Hayden were always friendly with each other and had a really nice rapport,” a source exclusively told Page Six. “They lived in the same apartment complex in Nashville for a while and would cross paths from time to time.
“Taylor was obviously really shocked when she heard about Hayden’s passing. She was deeply saddened to hear what happened.”
The pair both lived at The Adelicia in Nashville during a period when Panettiere was in Tennessee filming the ABC series “Nashville.”
Swift, 36, purchased a penthouse in the building in 2009, while Panettiere moved into the complex in 2012 after relocating to the city for the show.
Their neighborly connection once led to a memorable favor, which Panettiere recalled during a 2012 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after finding herself without a guitar before a songwriting session with songwriter Jessi Alexander.
“I freaked out because I didn’t have my guitar — I’d left it in my trailer,” Panettiere said. “I literally texted every one of those girls: ‘Does anybody have a guitar?’ Finally, Taylor Swift came through for me. Two of her security guards brought down this guitar. … I had to fill out a form. It was very intense.”
While Swift was promoting her “Red” album in 2012, she was asked during an interview with the Woody & Jim Show if she watches “Nashville.”
“Well, Hayden is a friend of mine and she’s my neighbor actually,” she said during an interview. “I remember the first time I ever met her, she came up and she was like, ‘I just need you to know, my character is not based on you.’ It was so hilarious.”
The insider continued to Page Six, “Hayden always spoke very highly of Taylor and was supportive of her, and there was always a mutual respect between them.”
The pop superstar and the Golden Globe nominee “saw each other at different events over the years and always got along really well,” the source said.
The two crossed paths outside their Nashville building, including at the Teen Choice Awards on July 22, 2012, where they were photographed together.
Representatives for Swift or Panettiere did not respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Panettiere died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, her family confirmed. She was 36.
Authorities responded to a South Carolina Airbnb on Sunday for an “unresponsive” female in “cardiac arrest” after a suspected “overdose.”
According to the incident report obtained by Page Six, “life-saving measures were administered,” but they were “unsuccessful.” .
A cause of death has not been officially determined. The coroner is awaiting toxicology results to determine cause and manner of death.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement announcing her death. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
Her father asked for privacy as the family processes the “unimaginable loss.”
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, and her parents.